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Psychology

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology

Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. The objective of the Psychology Department is to prepare students to enter graduate or professional schools, or a variety of careers in areas related to the discipline, such as mental health, education, research, business, human resources, human services, and counseling. The goals of the major are adapted from the American Psychological Association’s guidelines for undergraduate programs in Psychology*.

Students graduating with the major will:

be familiar with the concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in the field of psychology

understand and be able to apply psychological principles to personal, social, and organizational issues

understand and be able to apply basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis and interpretation

develop insight into their own and others’ behavior and mental processes

be able to apply effective strategies for self-management and self improvement

develop realistic ideas about how to implement their psychological knowledge, skills and values in occupational pursuits that meet personal goals and societal needs.

In accordance with Felician College’s Catholic/Franciscan mission and the values underpinning the discipline of psychology, students will also learn to act ethically, and recognize, understand and respect human diversity.

The Psychology Department offers a variety of courses that enable students to gain the requisite knowledge and skills, including lecture courses, research and field practicum courses, and an independent undergraduate research course in which students develop and present an individual project. Students not only have the opportunity to learn from faculty mentors, but can also enrich their experiences within the program by interacting with peers in the Psychology Club.

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

PSYC 201Introduction to Child Development or PSYC 202 Adolescent Psychologyor PSYC 203 The Psychology of Adult Development and Aging

PSYC 250

Writing and Reading in Psychology

PSYC 303

Statistics for Psychological Research

PSYC 309

Research Design in Psychology

PSYC 311

Biopsychology

PSYC/PHIL 390

Systems and Concepts of Psychology

PSYC 410U

Undergraduate Research in Psychology

Psychology Electives (18 credits):

Six additional Psychology courses of which at least three must be at the 300/400 level.

Electives should be selected in consultation with academic advisors, to suit career goals or personal interests.
In addition, please note that Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 101) is a required General Education course for Psychology majors.

Minor in Psychology

Students majoring in other disciplines may consider adding a minor in Psychology to their degree program. A minor in Psychology can be useful for all students, and especially desirable for those majoring in Nursing, Teacher Education or Business

Three additional Psychology courses selected in consultation with the academic advisor, of which at least two should be at the 300/400 level.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Psychology

The Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Psychology is a joint degree program with Rutgers School of Health Related Professions (Rutgers-SHRP). The program produces graduates ready to work with persons with mental illness and other disabilities. Graduates are also prepared to go on to graduate studies in counseling or social work.

The program involves a pre-professional phase, consisting of five semesters (75 credits) taken at Felician College, and a professional phase, consisting of three semesters (45 credits) at UMDNJ’s Scotch Plains campus, for a total of 120 credits. Students in the pre-professional phase of the program are advised by faculty in Felician College’s Psychology Department.

. In order to apply to the joint program, students must complete the pre-professional phase, consisting of required general education and Psychology courses, with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and a GPA of 3.0 in their Psychology major requirements. Applicants must also submit two letters of recommendation and a strong personal statement.

Students should apply at the end of the Sophomore year (or at the start of the Junior year), after completing the pre-professional phase at Felician College. Applications must be received by Rutgers no later than October 1st (and preferably by July 1st). Applications are reviewed by a joint Rutgers-Felician College admissions committee. Acceptance letters are mailed by November 15th. Students not accepted may revert to a Psychology major or another major at Felician College.

Students accepted to the program can take course work on either a full-time or a part-time basis. Students will be responsible for meeting all Rutgers requirements including health and immunization requirements, completion of Technical Standards/Essential Functions form, Criminal Background Check and all additional required enrollment forms and activities. Students will be required to complete the SHRP orientation online and attend a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Department orientation, which are scheduled the semester prior to the beginning of the Professional Phase of the Joint Program(s). Failure to attend or fulfill any of the Rutgers requirements may preclude admission to classes.

Required Psychology courses (at Felician College) for the Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Psychology major

PSYC 101

Introduction o Psychology – this course is a required General Education course for Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Psychology majors

One of the following
Development Psychology
courses:

PSYC 201 Introduction to Child Development or PSYC 202 Adolescent Psychology or PSYC 203 The Psychology of Adult Development and Aging

What can I do with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology?

Psychology majors pursue a wide variety of career paths. Some are in the psychology field (for example, as an assistant in a rehabilitation center). More often, psychology majors use the many skills they have learned to get jobs in the business world, working as personnel in retail, insurance companies, human resources, administrative support and sales. Other psychology majors get jobs in social services or health care, or work in government offices of various kinds. Psychology majors could also work in student services positions in colleges or universities.

Another option open to psychology majors is to go on to graduate school. A graduate degree in psychology can help you to find a job as a counselor, psychologist, professor or researcher. There are two types of graduate degrees: master’s degrees and doctoral degrees. To get a master’s degree, such as the M.A. in Counseling that Felician College offers, you will need to do about 2-3 years of additional study after your bachelor’s degree. With a master’s degree, you can work as a counselor in a school or a clinical setting. A master’s degree can also help you to get into a doctoral degree program. To get a doctoral degree, you will typically need to do 4-7 years of additional study after a bachelor's degree. There are many career options available to those who get a doctoral degree in psychology. For example, you could work as a clinical psychologist, a professor, or a researcher.